Cesarean Section vs. Normal Birth

There has been a consistent rise in the number of women opting for Cesarean section (or C-section) not only in India, but worldwide. Cesarean delivery rates have increased by nearly 60 percent between 1996 and 2009. While normal delivery is considered healthier for the baby, certain medical emergencies may trigger complications leaving doctors with no other choice but to operate. Also, if the mother-to-be has diabetes, herpes or high blood pressure, the obstetrician recommends a C-section delivery. But most young mothers today choose a Cesarean delivery to avoid stress and anxiety around labour. It becomes easy for working women to plan their maternity leaves and prepare for the baby. Read on to find out the pros and cons of both so that you can make a well-informed decision about the way you welcome your little one.

DOES IT AFFECT MY BODY?

Your body is naturally capable of giving birth. The ability to cope with the pain of pushing your baby through the birth canal is inbuilt. On the other hand, a C-section is a large scale abdominal surgery that comes with the risk of running into complications.

CAN MY BABY GET INFECTED?

If the expecting mother suffers from a sexually transmitted disease (STD) or an infection like herpes or hepatitis, the risk of you passing that on to your baby will be reduced drastically in a Cesarean delivery. In a vaginal birth, not only is your baby at risk of contracting your infection but also can get oxygen-deprived in the event of cord compression and other related problems during labour.

WHEN SHOULD I CONSIDER CESAREAN?

Doctors worldwide have maintained that if you are capable of giving birth naturally, do not change it only to stick to a schedule. When you give birth the natural way, you run a much lesser risk of infection and ensure a faster recovery. However, due to medical conditions like breech babies (bottom-first position rather than the normal head-first position), or a compressed umbilical cord, it is okay to opt for C-section since it proves to be safer for both, the mother and the child.

WHICH IS BETTER FOR MY BABY’S HEALTH?

If your baby is born vaginally, the chances of it contracting respiratory diseases like asthma are reduced, unlike in a Cesarean delivery. Moreover, a vaginal birth allows the mother to have early skin-on-skin contact and start breastfeeding right away.

CAN I GET INJURED DURING CHILDBIRTH?

Although unlikely, but in a vaginal delivery, you could injure your tail bone which might take months to recover and will only add to your postpartum pain. However, in a Cesarean birth, although postpartum pain is much more, there is no injury which is likely to occur when you go under the knife.

The choice is finally yours; you know what is best for you and your baby. It is important to have detailed conversations with your obstetrician throughout your pregnancy to make a well-informed decision. If you opt for a vaginal birth, you can plan your leaves and fix your schedule with the help of pregnancy due date calculators available online.